Programmes

MSc Management and Strategy

  • Graduate taught
  • Department of Management
  • Application code N1UG
  • Starting 2024
  • Home full-time: Open
  • Overseas full-time: Open
  • Location: Houghton Street, London

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The programme: The Management and Strategy programme is designed to develop your analytical and critical skills in the core strategic issues facing managers and organisations in today’s fast-moving global business world. It will give you a fundamental understanding of incentives and governance, organisational design, individual and group decision-making, and strategy in competition and markets. 

Informed by practice. The programme links critical analysis with practice, by combining the analytical rigour of an economics degree with real-world, contemporary case studies. Throughout the programme you will be challenged to understand and apply cutting-edge managerial and economic theory to examples from the real world.

Problem solving. With a strong focus on economic business analysis, you will learn to rigorously examine managerial challenges using economic techniques, and to recommend your own innovative, intelligent solutions.

Real world relevance. You will also develop a critical understanding of the wider socio-economic environment in which businesses across the globe operate, giving real world relevance to your managerial skills, and providing the training you will need to deal with unknown future challenges in the global economy across your lifetime career.

You do not require prior knowledge of economics, but you will need a basic interest in, and openness to, economic reasoning. The programme is aimed at students who have some quantitative background (e.g. a first degree in engineering, science, or a social science), with some quantitative training in elementary calculus and basic statistics. The programme will appeal to students with a degree in an economics or management-related subject who are looking for a more rigorous approach to management.

You will graduate as a skilled analytical thinker and decision-maker, with well-rounded intellectual and practical skills which are highly sought after by employers.

Read more about the LSE student experience on our student blog, The Student Lens >

Programme details

Key facts

MSc in Management and Strategy
Start date 30 September 2024
Application deadline None – rolling admissions. However, please note the funding deadlines
Duration 12 months full-time only
Applications 2022 852
Intake 2022 68
Financial support Graduate support scheme (see 'Fees and funding')
Minimum entry requirement 2:1 degree or equivalent in social science, engineering or science discipline 
GRE/GMAT requirement GMAT or GRE is required for all applicants, exceptions for LSE students/alumni of certain programmes (see GRE and GMAT for further information and exceptions)
English language requirements Standard (see 'Assessing your application')
Location  Houghton Street, London

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for MSc Management and Strategy

  • upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in social science, engineering or science discipline. See international entry requirements
  • GMAT or GRE is required from all applicants. However an exemption will be made for current LSE students, and alumni, studying (or who have studied) Economics, Management or Mathematics. Find out more about GRE/GMAT
  • no work experience is required, however the programme is well-suited to applicants with up to two years' experience, and applicants with more extensive experience are also welcomed
  • you may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE. See our English language requirements

Assessing your application

Your application will be considered on its academic merits. An offer of a place may be conditional on attending additional courses and/or passing qualifying examinations at a suitable standard, in addition to your degree. You should note that there are always many more applications than places available at LSE and possession of the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee that you will be offered admission. It is therefore in your interests to apply as early as possible.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
- statement of academic purpose
- two academic references
- GMAT/GRE
- CV

See further information on supporting documents

Speak to an Admissions specialist

If you have any queries which are not answered on the website or would like to chat with an admissions specialist, we run 1:1 Zoom chats on a weekly basis for prospective students and offer holders:

Book 1:1 session (prospective students)

Book 1:1 session (offer holders)

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.

Please note that to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details. 

Apply now >

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MSc Management and Strategy

Home students: £35,472
Overseas students: £36,168

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Deposit

To secure a place on the programme offer holders will be required to pay a deposit of 10% of the tuition fee within six weeks of receiving their offer. Detailed guidance, including details around exceptions, will be made available from December 2023.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support SchemeMaster's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 25 April 2024.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

Curriculum overview

We are ranked #5 in the world for social science and management, and the MSc Management and Strategy programme is founded in LSE’s tradition for academic excellence.

The programme is designed around four compulsory core courses, and you can also customise your programme according to your own interests and career goals with a wide choice of optional elective courses in managerial economics, accounting, finance, and a range of other topics from leading academic departments across LSE. 

You will complete the programme with a 6,000 word dissertation project during the summer, which will enable you to specialise with in-depth knowledge in your specific area of interest.

Compulsory core courses (2.5 units)

(* denotes a half unit)

Incentives and Governance in Organisations*
Explains how information and incentives influence decisions in organisations, and, on this basis, draws conclusions about the way companies should be organised and governed.

Design and Management of Organisations*
Investigates organisation and management decision making on the basis of general heuristics and biases exhibited by individuals and groups. This is used to analyse how organisations can manage individual and group decision making, and how this gives rise to informal structures in organisations, e.g. corporate culture.

Behavioural Strategy*
Introduces the abstract study of strategy on the basis of game theory and business economics, and applies these concepts to questions of business strategy, e.g. questions of vertical integration, value creation and a firm’s resources and capabilities.

Strategic Competitive Analysis*
Develops a framework, on the basis of game theory and economics, to think systematically about the various dimensions of how firms compete in industries. This includes questions of market definition, pricing, advertising and research and development.

Dissertation: MSc Management and Strategy*
Gives students the opportunity to work on a project of their choice and apply the concepts from the programme in addressing a research question and the analysis of empirical evidence.

Optional elective courses (1.5 units)

(* denotes a half unit)

You will customise your programme according to your own interests with two 0.5 unit courses from the M&S elective course list below plus one other 0.5 unit course.  This can be chosen from the list below or, with the approval of the Programme Director, from the full list of LSE graduate level courses

Two 0.5 unit courses from the following list:

Valuation and Security Analysis*

Accounting in the Global Economy*

Management Accounting, Decisions and Control*

Financial Accounting, Reporting and Disclosure*

Financial Markets* (FM473L)

Financial Markets* (FM473M) 

Managerial Finance* (FM474L)

Managerial Finance* (FM474M)

Auctions and Game Theory*

Firms & Markets in Emerging Economies

Negotiation Analysis*

Strategy for the Information Economy*

International Marketing: A Strategic Approach*

The World Trading System*

Brand Strategy*

Topics in Management Research*

Public Management: A Design-Oriented Approach

Corporate Strategy

Evolutionary Psychology and Management

Principles of Pricing

One 0.5 unit course
 from the above list or, with the approval of the Programme Director, from the full list of LSE graduate level courses

 To find the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page. 

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises. 

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page. 

Teaching and assessment

The LSE learning experience

The curriculum is designed to challenge your view of the world, and of management as a discipline. You will be asked to read the latest research to understand the underlying reasons why today’s business world exists as it does, and the practical implications for managers in practice. You will critically assess trends, conflicts and patterns in management and economic practice, and form your own opinions to defend and debate with your classmates in seminars. You will learn how to develop and communicate well-reasoned arguments, and to tackle complex decisions and problems in the context of the real socioeconomic and geo-political architecture in which businesses operate across the globe.

Teaching and assessment

Courses are taught in lecture and class or seminar format. Lectures introduce the core theoretical and technical concepts whilst their associated classes allow students to discuss and apply these concepts through exercises and in-depth study. Seminars allow for the focused study of key concepts in a more informal style and often involve presentations by students on selected course materials. Many teachers adopt a variety of teaching methods to deliver their courses such as class exercises, team presentations, individual or group work, or case study discussions.

Given the high level of academic performance expected from students, a significant amount of independent study and preparation is required to get the most out of the programme. Half-unit courses can be assessed by two hour unseen examinations, coursework assignments, class participation or group/individual project work.

You can view indicative details of hours and assessment for all courses listed in the online Programme Regulations.

You will also be assigned an academic adviser who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

Academic support

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE. LSE LIFE is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s Disability and Wellbeing Service provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Faculty

Programme Director

Jorn Rothe
Dr Jörn Rothe
Director of Studies, Managerial Economics and Strategy            

Teaching team  

Madarasz-K-170x230
Dr Kristóf Madarász
Associate Professor in Managerial Economics and Strategy           

Diane Reyniers
Professor Diane Reyniers
Professor of Managerial Economics and Strategy            

Yona Rubinstein
Professor Yona Rubinstein
Professor of Managerial Economics and Strategy                   

Catherine Thomas
Dr Catherine Thomas
Associate Professor of Managerial Economics and Strategy                   

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as student counselling, a peer support scheme and arranging exam adjustments. They run groups and workshops. 

IT help – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.  

LSE Faith Centre – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.  

Language Centre – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers ­– with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library  founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding. 

PhD Academy – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice – this offers discounted private dental services to LSE students. 

St Philips Medical Centre – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers – we have a Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy) and an Adviser to Women Students who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in extracurricular activities. From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one campus in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think London is a fantastic student city, find out about key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners. Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about London on a budget

Student stories

Student profiles

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Class profile

Each year we attract a diverse range of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and international locations, forming a close-knit academic community.

The programme is designed for pre-career or early-career graduates, and the majority of our applicants will have just completed their undergraduate bachelor’s degree. However we also welcome professionals with some work experience to bring a variety of experience to the classroom, and a number of students will have around 2 years’ experience.

Read more about the LSE student experience on our student blog, The Student Lens >

Careers

Career development with the MSc Management & Strategy

The programme will develop your intellectual and practical skills as a talented managerial economist, with the ability to thrive and innovate with challenges in today’s complex and fast-moving business world. Your practical and professional management skills will be developed and polished during the programme, including communication and presentation skills, team working, and cultural intelligence gained from close collaboration with classmates from around the world. You will graduate with a well-rounded portfolio of practical and intellectual managerial skills to set you apart in the job market. 

LSE Careers

LSE Careers will provide tailored individual support with your professional development and job search throughout the programme. They offer one-to-one Career Consultant sessions, access to employers with career fairs, seminars and workshops, a vast database of employment opportunities via the LSE Career Hub, and help with job hunting, CVs/resumes and interviews. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.

Graduate destinations

LSE is ranked #5 in the world for its reputation with employers, and Management and Strategy graduates are highly sought-after by employers for their unique combination of intellectual and practical skills in management and economic analysis, along with highly developed critical decision making and problem-solving abilities.

Management and Strategy graduates have taken roles across a wide variety of sectors, in companies across the globe. Two common career paths are management consulting or finance, with graduates taking up roles with companies such as PwC, Deloitte, McKinsey, Accenture, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Credit Suisse. However opportunities are broad, and M&S graduates have also gone on to excel in careers with employers in a range of other industries, from Facebook to the World Bank.

Here are some examples of the companies and organisations which our alumni now work for: 

  • Accenture
  • Bain & Company
  • Barclays
  • Bloomberg
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Booz & company
  • BP
  • Citi Group
  • Credit Suisse
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Deloitte
  • Elipse
  • EY
  • Facebook
  • Gallup
  • Goldman Sachs
  • HSBC
  • JP Morgan
  • McKinsey
  • Nestlé
  • Oliver Wyman
  • PwC
  • Shell
  • UBS
  • World Bank

Contact us

Programme and admissions enquiries

With questions related to your application or the admissions process, please check our admissions frequently asked questions page.

If you have any queries which are not answered on the website, please contact the Programme and Admissions Team:

Email: dom.msc.admissions@lse.ac.uk
 

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